Our Logo History

As we embark on a new chapter in our history, we want to share with you where our association has been by highlighting the logos from our past. The list is not inclusive as there were probably other versions of different logos used throughout the years. This history reflects the logos that appeared in the Journal of Environmental Health, which provides a documented history of NEHA within its pages.

1937–1965


The logo (or emblem as it was called) was a shield with a beacon in the center. The logo was adopted on December 11, 1937, at the first annual meeting of the National Association of Sanitarians in San Luis Obispo. California. The slogan, “Sanitarians—the Beacon Light of Public Health,” was adopted in 1932 before the national association was created. We can infer that the logo was created as a reflection of this slogan.

1965–1969


This logo first appeared in the November/December 1965 Journal of Environmental Health. The shield and beacon logo was placed in front of a globe with the words, “Environmental Health Around the World,” running on the outside of the globe. It was printed in the Journal until the March/April 1969 issue. We assume that this design is what the next logo was based on after the association changed its name in 1970.

1970–1975

On January 1, 1970, the name of the organization was officially changed from the National Association of Sanitarians to the National Environmental Health Association. During this time period, no type of association logo was used in the Journal. It is possible that it took the association 5 years to design and approve the next logo, especially given the limited capacity of the organization and the financial troubles experienced during this time period.

1975–2022

      
The logo that we used for the next 47 years appeared on the March/April 1975 Journal of Environmental Health. It is interesting to note that the map of the U.S. is distorted in the original logo and it was used that way until 2005 when the distortion was fixed. The black and blue versions of the logo were used throughout this time, with use of the blue logo becoming prominent in the 2000s when color printing became more common and less costly.

2022 and Beyond

    
We are pleased to unveil our new logo that will serve us and the environmental health profession in the years to come. The new logo design reflects the development of both NEHA and the profession. The bold, bespoke font represents the strong and unique historical foundation of the organization, still one of the only associations in the world dedicated specifically to environmental health. The bursting petals signify a new era and excitement for what is possible for NEHA and the profession, particularly after the COVID‐19 pandemic. The position of the petals over the “eh” letters represent the shelter NEHA provides to the workforce through advocacy, education, and community. Finally, the range of blue colored petals acknowledges the importance of including diverse perspectives and experiences to address the environmental challenges of today and beyond.